Ogmore Vale 2nds 20 Sports 2nd XV 52
Sports visited Ogmore seeking their first league win of the season and started brightly as swift handling form the backs allowed wing Leon Solder to cross after 5 mins. Simon Partridge converted from close range. Only minutes later, fullback Dai Rees ran in unopposed for his 5th try of the season, Partridge again converting easily. With the Sports threatening to run away with the game early on, Ogmore were awarded 2 penalties for indiscipline at the breakdown, both converted to make the score 6-14.
The Sports pack started to dominate the ruck and maul area and with passive scrums, the front row of Ashley Howells, Greg Thomas and hooker Kurt Dent showed up well in the loose. 10 minutes before halftime, the Sports threequarter line again broke down the stubborn Vale defence with centre Ian Hearne going over after evading 3 would-be tacklers. This time the conversion went just wide.
From a scrum 5 metres out, lock Phil John crossed for what looked a certain try , referee disallowing it, however from the resulting reset scrum, John powered over for a well deserved converted try. Half time score 6-26.
Straight from the restart, Sports looked hungry for more and a second try for Phil John followed as he powered his way through to score from 15 metres out, easily converted.
However Ogmore never gave up and soon scored their first of the game after some clever outside-half play and weak tackling saw the 10 score under the posts, The conversion followed.
This woke the visitors up and again some neat interchange in midfield put winger Ian John into space and he cruised up the touchline to coast in. Conversion missed. Debutant Jay Dent then run in from the halfway after great support work to score his first for the club and moments after that, centre Paul Jurkiewicz was rewarded for his defensive efforts with a great try. Partridge converted both to take his tally to 12. The last word however went to the home team as they went over for their 2nd try with last move of the match, no more than they deserved for their overwhelming team spirit and never say die attitude. Man of the match for the 2nd week running went to Sports No 8 Martin Lorimer.
It was a comfortable victory in the end for the Sports and they will look to build on this victory when they face Bryncethin next in the league